49ERS’ GAROPPOLO DONE FOR SEASON
SANTA CLARA — Jimmy Garoppolo’s season indeed is over, as a MRI exam Monday confirmed he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee late in the 49ers’ loss Sunday at Kansas City.
C.J. Beathard, who went 14 last season as a rookie starter, will now replace Garoppolo as the injuryladen 49ers (1-2) next face the Los Angeles Chargers (1-2) on Sunday in Carson, Calif.
Garoppolo’s knee buckled as he scrambled down the left sideline with 5:27 remaining in the 38-27 defeat. Sacked on the two previous plays, he was flushed from the pocket on third-and-goal and raced 13 yards to the 7yard line, where, rather than voluntarily go out of bounds, he endured a helmet-to-helmet hit by Chiefs cornerback Steven Nelson.
So ended Garoppolo’s fifth NFL season. Traded to the 49ers last Oct. 30 after a 3 1/2season tenure with the New England Patriots, he went 5-0 as their December starter, prompting the 49ers to sign him on Feb. 8 to what then was the richest contract in NFL history (five years, $137.5 million).
Garoppolo not only elevated his teammates’ on-field capabilities, he revitalized a frustrated fan base, so much so that the 49ers gave out Garoppolo bobblehead dolls at last week’s home-opening win over the Detroit Lions.
Beathard served as the gobetween starter last season, taking over from Brian Hoyer after an 0-4 start and going 1-4 in his own starts before Garoppolo took over in December. Beathard completed 54.9 percent of his passes and had more interceptions (6) than touchdown passes (4), but he won over teammates with his ability to
shake off big hits in the pocket (19 sacks).
“It’s huge having already played last year in six games,” Beathard said after Sunday’s game. “That helps me going forward. Second time around, I think it will be a little easier.”
Veteran nose tackle Earl Mitchell added: “He’s a tough guy. He’s been doing well. He’s wise beyond his years, that’s a tribute to Kyle and John Lynch in the type of guys they bring in to our locker room.”
Backing up Beathard likely will be Nick Mullens, who’s in his second season on the practice squad after going undrafted out of Southern Miss. Mullens completed 72.1 percent of his passes this past exhibition season; Beathard completed 60 percent.